The Blue Nile water falls (Tis Isat Falls)

The river Nile, over 800 Km in length with in Ethiopia and the longest river in Africa, holds part of its heart in Ethiopia from Lake Tana, the Blue Nile, known locally as Abay, flows for 800 Km within Ethiopia to meet the White Nile in Khartoum to form the great river. It has been said that the Blue Nile contributes up to 80 % of the Nile's flow. Nowhere, is it more spectacular than where it thunders over the Tis Isat Falls literally "Smoking Water" - near Bahirdar. Here millions of gallons of water cascade over the cliff face and into a gorge, creating spectacular rainbows, in one of the most awe-inspiring displays in Africa.

The Blue Nile falls can easily be reached from Bahirdar 32 KM and the scenic beauty of the Blue Nile Gorge, 225 Km from Addis Ababa, can be enjoyed as part of an excursion from the capital.

Ethiopia a paradise for Ornithology, there are about 835 species of birds known to occur in Ethiopia, 23 are found exclusively within the country's boundaries. Most of these 23 endemic birds are widely distributed, chiefly on the western and southern highland plateau. Many of the semi endemic birds of Ethiopia- like Thick-Billed Raven, Wattled Ibis, Black Winged Love bird and White Collared Pigeon- are notably common over extensive areas of the plateau, and, because they are big readily identified and not especially shy, they are consequently easy to see and observe. Even in the highland forests which support comparatively few endemic species of birds, the endemics are nevertheless obvious and common. The song of one- the Abyssinian cat bird - is considered to be one of the most beautiful of any bird in Africa, Three Ethiopian Endemics are confined to the southern edge of Ethiopian plateau: they are the Streetman’s Bush-Crow, The white Tailed Swallow and Prince Ruspoli's Turaco. Another endemic Ethiopian bird, The Blue- Winged Goose, is a very isolated species: its closest relative is a Goose which occurs in South America. It is surprising that the biology of obvious and common endemic birds of Ethiopia remains inadequately known, For the Scientist, they provide a great number of interesting problems of investigation: for the tourist, they provide a very enjoyable opportunity of seeing something new and unique: for the bird watcher, they provide the experience of observing 23 birds found nowhere else in the world.